RE: Laservault ViTL Virtual Tape Library -- MIDRANGE-L

Good point.
We all know what happens too, with Windows Updates.
Just imagine a critical back up failing due to Window's Updates.

One of the pluses if this server compared to all the others I've looked at.
You can increase your VTL capacity simply by adding more DASD.
Most of the others are dedicated, and you would need to upgrade to the next model.
Is this correct?

Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of DrFranken
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2018 8:32 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: Laservault ViTL Virtual Tape Library

Rob makes a great point that running Laservault on a windows server
subjects it at least potentially to ransomware. It also means if that
server is not dedicated to this task that in a disaster you would FIRST
need to rebuild this to use it for recovery or go to the physical tape
backups.

All of the other VTLs I'm familiar with are running on dedicated
hardware with Linux as the base O/S. They are intentionally stripped
down (e.g. no file sharing etc) with few services running so as to limit
exposure.

- Larry "DrFranken" Bolhuis

www.Frankeni.com
www.iDevCloud.com - Personal Development IBM i timeshare service.
www.iInTheCloud.com - Commercial IBM i Cloud Hosting.

On 11/28/2018 12:41 AM, Steinmetz, Paul wrote:

Larry,

I believe Laservault can also DUP directly without involving the Power system.
Also, Laservault can run on your own Windows server, either physical or VM.
One only needs to purchase the license.

My next step in this process would be a Laservault/Sphinx comparison, pros/cons.

Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of DrFranken
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 11:53 PM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: Laservault ViTL Virtual Tape Library

Not using Laservault but a big fan of ETINET's SPHiNX products.

Will certainly do what you want. Works flawlessly as an IBM tape library
and can be connected Fiber or SAS (or for *REALLYOLDSYSTEMS also with SCSI).

With either LaserVault or the SPHiNX I would back up to that FIRST and
then dup to LTO tape. Backing up to the VTL is going to be faster in
most cases.

Also the SPHiNX can export directly to LTO without involving your Power
System and adding I/O load via the DUPTAP process.

<Vendor Response>

With VTL solutions you could simply replicate the tapes from the VTL to
an offsite location. We at iInTheCloud offer this service. End Tape
Duplication time, tape costs, and off-site storage and it's all automagic!

</Vendor Response>

- Larry "DrFranken" Bolhuis

www.Frankeni.com
www.iDevCloud.com - Personal Development IBM i timeshare service.
www.iInTheCloud.com - Commercial IBM i Cloud Hosting.

On 11/27/2018 11:31 PM, Steinmetz, Paul wrote:

Anyone in the group using Laservault's new ViTL

https://www.laservault.com/vitl-2/vitl/

I'm looking to a 2nd tape library for duplication purposes, eliminate all tape handling.
I can continue to use my existing 3573 LT07 as my primary library, and dup to the Laservault ViTL
Or
Use the Laservault ViTL as the primary tape library and dup to the 3573 LTO7.

Any thoughts from the group.

Thank You
_____
Paul Steinmetz
IBM i Systems Administrator

Pencor Services, Inc.
462 Delaware Ave
Palmerton Pa 18071

610-826-9117 work
610-826-9188 fax
610-349-0913 cell
610-377-6012 home

psteinmetz@xxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pencor.com/